Chris Smith served as Labour's shadow heritage secretary in 1994-5 and took up the office after the party's general election victory in 1997.

He is responsible for government policy on the arts, tourism and sport.

His department is also responsible for the national lottery and he is chairman of the Millennium Commission, although responsibility for the Millennium Dome lies with Cabinet Office minister Lord Falconer.

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and Minister for Tourism, Film and Broadcasting: Janet Anderson

Mrs Anderson's responsibilities include the press, creative industries, and the millennium.

Her position also covers international, regional and local government issues.

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and Minister for the Arts: Alan Howarth

Mr Howarth, who joined the department in July 1998, is responsible for the arts, crafts, museums and galleries and libraries.

His position also covers the built heritage, the Royal estate, architecture and design.

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and Minister for Sport: Kate Hoey

Kate Hoey, who was Northern Ireland's women high jump champion in 1965, is the first woman to hold the position of minister for sport.

Ms Hoey replaced Tony Banks at the department, who has now been freed up to campaign for England to host 2006 World Cup.

She was appointed to the department in July 1999 after serving as a parliamentary under secretary of state at the Home Office where she was given the job of clamping down on football hooliganism.

Her position includes increasing the opportunities for participation in sport by young people and increasing the UK's sporting success.

The department

Chris Smith's department is responsible for government policy on the arts, sport and recreation in England.

Its remit also covers the National Lottery, libraries, museums and galleries, export licensing of cultural goods, broadcasting (it oversees the BBC's licence fee settlement) and film.

It also covers press freedom and regulation and tourism.

The department also has responsibility for the royal estate and the royal parks and palaces through two executive agencies.

It also covers the government art collection and represents the UK's interests in various international forums.

Many of its activities are carried out via 45 non-departmental public bodies and corporations such as the Arts Council and British Film Institute, the BBC, Channel 4 and S4C.

The department was previously known as the Department of National Heritage up until July 1997.